Harahan native John Dunlap III has been promoted to brigadier general in the Louisiana National Guard. Dunlap, a lawyer who lives in Baton Rouge, will serve as a principal military adviser to the adjutant general and be responsible for helping with deployment and coordination of programs, policies and plans for the Louisiana Army National Guard.

"I've spent my entire career working with soldiers and airmen and their leaders to set conditions for them to be successful in their mission in order to better take care of the men and women of the Louisiana National Guard," Dunlap said.

Dunlap was commissioned as a Judge Advocate General officer in the Army in 1989 and served three years as an Army prosecutor. He tried more than 40 courts martial that included larceny, murder and kidnapping. In 1990 he deployed with the 1st Armored Division to Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm.

He joined the Guard in 1992 and was assigned to the 256th Infantry Brigade as the assistant logistics officer. Dunlap deployed with the 256th in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. He has also responded to more than 25 state emergencies, notably hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Louisiana Flood of 2016.

Dunlap served as the 256th's inspector general and the assistant state inspector general. He also served as the deputy staff judge advocate for the 61st Troop Command and 256th.

"When I think about John there are a lot of things that come to my mind, but in service to our nation probably the quality that comes out more than any other to me is loyalty," said Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, the Guard's adjutant general. "Through his career and through all those tough times, he's finally deserved the right to wear the rank of brigadier general."